FORT RUCKER, Ala. (May 15, 2014) -- Preparing a resume is the toughest and yet the most important step in getting a good job. Why do you need one?
The main purpose is to get your foot in the door, which means getting an interview. You will be hired for two reasons: you fill a need for the company and the employer likes you. A resume can convince an employer that both of these are true.
In order to prepare a good resume, you first should consider what the employer is looking for in job candidates. Generally, an employer is looking for an employee with specific knowledge and experience.
For example, if an employer is hiring a heavy equipment mechanic, the employer wants to know about your experience in that field or a closely related one. How long have you been a mechanic? What special tools do you use? What kinds of heavy equipment have you worked on?
The employer is also interested in your training and formal education. If you are already trained, it saves the employer time, and time is money. The military provides excellent technical training, which is normally well respected by employers.
If the job is in a non-technical area, such as sales, finance or management, most employers are seeking well-educated people they can train on the job. Even if you have very limited experience, your education, experience and activities can convince employers you are a bright person with the aptitude to learn and the desire to contribute.
Your resume can also prepare an employer to like you, by showing that you have desirable qualities. The employer is looking for industrious people. Your experience and achievements can show this trait.
All employers want to surround themselves with cooperative staff members. Your participation and membership in professional and service organizations can convey this quality. An employer will appreciate your interest in the job, and the product or service. Your objective statement and highlighted applicable experience shows that the employer's interests and yours are compatible. The employer will also expect an orderly and business-like mind. The format and appearance of the resume reflect these attributes. On the other hand, a sloppy resume, with typographical errors and poor grammar, can cause an immediate dislike.
Once the resume is prepared, it serves purposes other than getting you off to a good start with employers. It usually improves your chances for an interview, because an employer learns more about you than competitors who only complete the application.
You can also give a copy to friends and relatives who are assisting you in your job search. They often will hand carry it to an employer for you. You should also give a copy to anyone you will use for a reference. This will assist them when they speak with employers about what you have to offer.
If you are a transitioning Soldier or spouse of a transitioning Soldier, the Fort Rucker ACAP can help you with your resume after you have completed the Department of Labor Workshop. For more information, call 255-2558.
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